OK, boys and girls, you want to see what it's like to live in the OLD World ?

I mean, really old... "OLDE" old...



Well, here's the view from my parents' house... LERICI in Italy



The Castle on the left is also quoted in Dante's Divine Comedy (in the Inferno, where else ?)
The Norman-looking tower on the right is actually the clock of City hall (big grey rooftop)



The small tower that juts over the rooftops on the right is a former "summer residence", often called "casina di caccia" or "hunting lodge", it is now a kindergarten run by nuns. Built sometime in the Reneissance.



This is the castle as seen from below, it was built by the Republic of Pisa in the 12th Century.



Seafront



This is PORTOVENERE, built by the Republic of Genoa in the same period; it is just across the bay; Pisans and Genoese, being arch competitors for commerce with the Middle east in the Middle Ages, would often shell each other's merchant vessel whenever at range.
They would also protect the coastal villages from raids by pirates and Saracen slave traders.
(but then they would do the same against Algeria and Tunisia, and the Ventians against the Turks...)



Closeup of the ancient Chapel to St.George



Goodnight !

How in the ( olde) world did they get EVERYbody in town to use the same shade of green on the shutters?

Beautiful, breathtaking !  
Give us an idea of the cost of living there ? I doubt there is any building going on, what you see is what you get. Like housing costs ? food ? utility's ? .  I bet the same family's have lived in the same house for years. Funny you hardly ever see places like this in a travel agents broucher. Hopefully your parents are still alive and well.
thanks for sharing , that made my morning
PS,Maurizio, those little islands ,are they inhabited ? do they have names ?

There is no place there, that I can't imagine myself sitting...

... and to think, I'm just 6 lottery numbers away... ...

Beautiful....

Thanks for all the replies !  

Splash07, you just come over, I'll give you the kind of tour the tourist guides never tell you about  

Naaah ! Not that kind of tour, what are you thinking?  
Eating, staying the night out kind of tour ! There's more traffic at 11p.m. on a Saturday night than 11a.m. next Monday morning!

Perry, my Mom is from Istria, my grandmother's younger brother still lives in Trieste.
You fly over, I'll drive/ride/whatever.

Mick, You're not 6 lottery numbers away, there's a great flight by AirFrance from SanFrancisco to Paris, connetc to Rome
OR
Direct Alitalia from LosAngeles to Rome. Both overnighters. You just come, I'll make sure you get nice and fat and happy  

Babyhog... whatcherwaiting fer, gurl ?

Anyway, if anybody is considering visiting, just drop me a line, I will make sure you get to see what no brochure will ever mention!
I mean, what's the point of seeing what everybody else has already seen?
How about some hidden trasures ?  

Beautiful shots my friend. I wish I was there now.

Great pics!!. If the missus and I ever get a chance to get over the big pond we won't know where to start. There is just so much history to taken in and see!!  Thanks for the look see.

Some great pics; I particularly like the colors in the last one!